Good Morning Aldona ...

As far as I know .... any denomination that accepts baptism by immersion would accept you despite all the trappings of Adventism. Any SDA church will accept the baptism of any other denomination that baptised you by immersion.

So, this is the evidence that baptism is into Christ and not the SDA church. But, all the vows that you mentioned ... are only for membership ... not baptism. However ... you are right that some pastors amalgamate the two.

...and shouldn't.

Graeme

No, I don't believe it's just "some pastors amalgamating the two" - it's presented that way in the baptismal vows and the church manual.

You have to agree to Ellen and the Sabbath and the health message and the Second coming and all the other unique doctrines before you even step into the baptismal pool.

If you REALLY want to test whether we baptise into Jesus Christ or into a denomination, find a new believer who has just made a decision to follow Jesus, and is diligent in studying the Bible and showing evidence of a transformed life...it's just that he/she does not feel led to join the Adventist church.

What if such a person went to an SDA pastor and said "I want to be baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, as a public statement that I am now a Christian believer, but I would like to join the Methodist/ Episcopal/ Pentecostal/ etc. church down the street."

What do you suppose his/her chances are of being baptized by said SDA pastor in an SDA church? I'm thinking of snowflakes and very hot places....

aldona

Yes. That would be right Aldona. But there are some who would do it under cover of night and dressed up incognito and off the books of course.